Patton



(No Model.)

0. W. PATTON.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 485,218. Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W'ASl-IINGTON PATTON', OF CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OFTWO-THIRDS TO JOHN J. RAMSEY AND THOMAS J. RAMSEY, OF SHELBY- VILLE,KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,218, dated November1, 1892.

Application filed May 20, 1892. Serial No. 433,740- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES WASHINGTON PATTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Glarksville, in the county of Hamilton 5 and Stateof Indiana, have invented a new and useful Car-Coupling, of which thefollow ing is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

I The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of that class of pin-and-link car-couplings in which thecoupling-pin preparatory to coupling is supported in an elevatedposition and falls I into engagement with a link when the cars cometogether.

A further object of the invention is to insure coupling each time thecars come together and to provide means for holding the :0 link in ahorizontal position preparatory to coupling.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-couplingconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical sectional View. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4is a detail perspective view of the pin-support. Fig. 5 is a similarView of the link-holder.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawin s.

I designates a draw-head havinga longitudinal opening and provided inopposite sides thereof with horizontal grooves 2, forming 4o guides forsides 3 of a pin-support 4, which is composed of the said sides, andacross-piece 5, which is adapted to support a coupling-pin 6 in anelevated position and to be moved rearward by a linkfrom beneath thecouplingpin to allow the latter to fall in engagement with the link 7.The cross-piece 5 is provided with a depending tongue 8 andarearwardlyextending lug 9, against which bears a spiral spring 10, andwhich connects the spiral spring with the rear end of the pin-support.The

spiral spring holds the pin-support forward beneath the coupling-pin andis adapted to be compressed to allow the coupling-pin to fall. It alsoholds the tongue 8 in engagement with the inner end of the link 7 tohold the 5: latter forward and to allow the same to give k when the carscome together to prevent a breakage of the link.

In order to insure coupling when the cars come together and to cause thepin to fall even though a link for any cause should fail to engage thedepending tongue and move the pin-support rearward, the ends 11 of thesides 3 of the pin-support are extended outward, and when thepin-support is in its forward position the extended ends 11 projectbeyond the draw-head and are adapted to be engaged by the front end ofthe draw-head of another car and to be moved rearward by the latter tocause the coupling-pin to fall. It will thus be seen that the cars oncoming together will couple, as the operation of the coupling-pin ispositive and reliable.

The link is held in a horizontal position and maintained in a properposition for coupling by a plate 12, which is hinged byapintle-rod 13 tothe front and top of the draw-head, and it has its rear end 14bifurcated to receive the coupling-pin and projecting rearward onopposite sides of the same and adapted to bear down upon the inner endof the link. The plate 12 is caused to bear upon the inner end of thelink with the necessary pressure by a spiral spring 15, disposed on thepintle-rod 13, and having one arm bearing against the top of thedraw-head and another arm engaging the upper face of the hinged plate12.

The upper end of the coupling-pin is provided with an eye, to which aresecured the 0 lower ends of operating-ropes 1 6,which extend upward fromthe draw-head to the top of the cars and have their upper ends arrangedat the sides thereof, so that the cars may be readily uncoupled from thetops. The ver- 5 tical movement of the coupling-pin is limited by avertical rod 17, rising from the rear part of the draw-head, and isprovided at its upper end with a horizontal arm 18, extending out- Wardover the coupling-pin and provided with I00 an opening 19, through whichpass the operating-ropes 16. The horizontal arm 18 forms a stop toprevent the coupling-pin being entirely withdrawn from the draw-head,and it also serves as a guide for the operating-rope in order that thedirect vertical pull may be given to the coupling-pin, so as to renderthe operation of uncoupling positive.

It will be apparent that the car-coupling is simple and comparativelyinexpensive in construction and positive and reliable in operation, andshould either the pin-support or linkholder become injured or brokenthey may be readily removed, the former by lifting the link-holder andwithdrawing it and the latter by simply removing the pintle-rod.

The upper end of the hinged plate is provided with eyes to receivethepintle-rod, and the spiral spring is arranged between the eyes.

What 'I claim is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-headprovided in its-sides with longitu dinal grooves, anapproximately-U-sh'aped pinsupport comprising parallel sides arranged inthe grooves, and a cross-piece con nectin g theinner ends of the sidesand adapted to support a pin, and a spring for moving the pin supportforward, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided in itssides with longitudinal grooves, an approximately-U-shaped pin -supportcomprising parallel sides arranged in the grooves and having extendedends projecting beyond the draw-head, a crosspiece connecting the innerends of the sides and adapted to support a coupling-pin, and a springfor moving the pin support forward, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head, a coupling-pin, apintle-rod arranged transversely of the draw-head at the top thereof, aplate hinged to the draw-head by the pintle-rod and having its rear endbifurcated and adapted to engage thelink, and a spring disposed on thepintle-rod and pressing the plate downward, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided in itssides with horizontal grooves, a pin-support provided with side barsarranged in the grooves and having a cross-piece connecting the sidebars, a coupling-pin arranged in advance of the crosspiece, and a platehinged to the top of the draw-head and havingits rear end bifurcated andextending rearward'beyond the couplingpin on opposite sides of 'thesame, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES WASHINGTON lAlTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, BERNIGE A. W001).

